while most of what you say has some truth to it... the xt225 is a pretty mean little bike. My dads got one from 2000 and it would kick the **** out of my klx all stock. maybe its because he used to race back in the day but i doubt it... you dont have to be jeff gordon to floor it going stright. just my 2 cents P.S. did all the free mods today w/ K&N air just waiting on some jets to come in and we will have the results of the next race ASAP muwahahahah!

 

Not sure how fast the XT is in a straight line, nor do I care. It's just that the XT has such low tech components (drum brakes, air cooled engine, ancient chassis, outdated styling, etc.). It may be a nice beginner bike, but other than that I really can't see it's purpose. Both the new KLX and old one look so much nicer and have the capability to be a much better bike than the XT. With only a few hundred dollars separating the two bikes, it's a no brainer to me to buy the KLX. Glad you got the KLX. Throw a pipe on it, a 13-tooth front sprocket and get your jetting dialed in and you'll kill your dad by many bike lengths.

 

I'm not saying I would buy one, I think they're just too short, and look a little too civilized looking for my taste but, in the interest of accuracy, let's look at the XT225 and the XT250 side by side. XT250: disc brakes front and rear. Now look at where the starter is on each engine. If the two motors don't even have the starter in the same place, is it really just revamped? Yamaha's website claims it's a "new" engine. Is it completely new? I'm not sure, but it's clearly not simply bored out version of the XT225 engine.

As far the XT's "ancient chassis", look at the frames of the 225 and the 250. They're not the same frame. How far back does the 2009 KLX frame go? 1994? I don't know that either, but it isn't exactly cutting edge, but it still works, doesn't it?

 

Thanks for all the help! This is longest I've been without a bike in ten years. I have to waituntil Imeet with my boss next week before I pull the trigger. I don't like to finance bikes and work has been way too slow. The weather here has been ridable all winter which is killing me - 56 degrees today.

 

Not that I don't like the xt,but for me the klx wins hands down.I have to say my ttr has way more low end torque stock than my klx though

 

Wow, those are some fugly bikes. But if I had to choose I'd definitely take the 225, that 250 looks like a trials bike. And what's up with the wacky looking front fender on the 250? You couldn't give me one of them bikes to ride, I'd refuse it. They may be the most unattractive looking motorcycles on the market if you ask me. I'd rather ride a mountain bike to be honest.

 

Yea I agree, that fender on the 250 is too short to keep the mud from getting on the engine. Ok maybe that's just me.

 

"you couldn't give me one?" "the fender is too short?" You guys are killing me

 

I just noticed, the "short" front fender has a mini fender in the back of the fork legs just above the wheel! Is this just a clever way to move the engine forward or make the bike shorter w/o hitting the fender when the bars are turned?

I now see the "trials bike" look that was mentioned and that is what is was about thestyling that I thoughtstrange, but couldn't place...

 

Come on, if someone came up to us and said here you go, its free, we would all take it, don't lie.[8D] My motto is "If it's free....take it."